THE HON BILL SHORTEN

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG
SPEECH
AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY NATIONAL CONFERENCE
THE HYATT, CANBERRA
SATURDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2014
**PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY**
[Acknowledgements m!tted"
I think Im like many Australians, I dont usually talk publically about my
faith and I shall not make a habit of it.
As a member of parliament and as the leader of a great political party, I
am not in the business of preaching to others, and of course like most
Australians, neither do I take kindly to being preached at when I am going
about my business in the public square.
Today, I hope we can share our hopes and ideals robustly - respecting
each others dignity and conscience.
I spoke with my local priest at t Thomas in !oonee "onds two weeks ago
when I was organising my thoughts for this speech, and he suggested I
begin with something from the scriptures.
The passage I#e chosen is from !atthew$
#lessed $%e t&e 'oo% !n s'!%!t( )o% t&e!%s !s t&e k!ngdom o) &e$*en+
#lessed $%e t&ose w&o mo,%n( )o% t&e- w!ll .e com)o%ted+

#lessed $%e t&e meek( )o% t&e- w!ll !n&e%!t t&e e$%t&+
#lessed $%e t&ose w&o &,nge% $nd t&!%st )o% %!g&teo,sness( )o% t&e- w!ll .e
/lled+
#lessed $%e t&e me%c!),l( )o% t&e- w!ll .e s&own me%c-+
#lessed $%e t&e ',%e !n &e$%t( )o% t&e- w!ll see God+
#lessed $%e t&e 'e$cem$ke%s( )o% t&e- w!ll .e c$lled c&!ld%en o) God+
I am sure you recognise the beatitudes, the beginning of arguably the
most famous speech in human history.
In the ermon on the !ount, %esus shares the uni#ersal lo#e, tolerance
and ser#ice that underpins his &ospel which is the core of the 'hristian
message.
(e re)ects the empty #engeance of an *eye for an eye and tells us instead
to *turn the other cheek.
%udge not, %esus tells us$

0o% !n t&e s$me w$- -o, 1,dge ot&e%s( -o, w!ll .e 1,dged( $nd w!t& t&e
me$s,%e -o, ,se( !t w!ll .e me$s,%ed to -o,+
And abo#e all, he tells us to lo#e our neighbour as we lo#e oursel#es.
To treat people as we would like to be treated.
In e*e%-t&!ng( do to ot&e%s w&$t -o, wo,ld &$*e t&em do to -o,
+hen I was at school we were taught that this was the *golden rule.
It was at the heart of the %esuit call to be a *man for others.
And I ha#e spent my working life, both representing workers and as
parliamentarian, trying to measure up to this standard of compassion and
empathy.
To answer the clarion call to care for the #ulnerable, to speak up for the
powerless, to re)ect hatred and intolerance, to help the poor and to pursue
peace.
,f course, none of these #irtues belongs to 'hristianity alone.
-or does a belief in social )ustice necessarily depend upon the teachings
of 'hrist.
-o faith has a monopoly on compassion.
-o religion *owns tolerance or charity or lo#e.
Australia is a remarkable country, full of decent and generous people of
good conscience, drawn from all faiths and none.
And Australians rightly e.pect our national leaders, to respect the
constitutional separation of 'hurch and tate.
/emember %ohn 0 1ennedys famous response to allegations that he was
the *'atholic candidate2
(e declared that as "resident he would be$ 2%es'ons!.le to $ll )$!t&s( .,t
o.l!g$ted to none3
Thats the only religious test Australians apply to their leaders.
ometimes people describe modern, multicultural, multi-faith Australia as
*tolerant.
3ut the society we ha#e built beneath the outhern 'ross goes beyond
that.
+e do not )ust *tolerate di4erence, we celebrate it.
,f course, we e.pect people to lea#e behind their old con5icts, respect
our laws, uphold our #alues.
3ut we do not endure di#ersity under su4erance - we embrace the
contribution that all those who#e come from across the seas ha#e made
to their new home.
And the greatness of our nation is that e#ery person is free to be proud of
what they belie#e.
0or Australians of faith, religion is a base to build upon in public life e#en
if it is also a destination for retreat, solace and sustenance in pri#ate life .
And no faith, no religion, no set of beliefs should e#er be used as an
instrument of di#ision or e.clusion.
As you know, far better than I, the 3ible teaches us that we are all
immutably imperfect.
'ondemning anyone, discriminating against anyone, #ilifying anyone is a
#iolation of the #alues that we all share.
A #iolation that can ne#er be )usti6ed by anyones faith or belief.
-ot yours, not mine.
-ot anyones.
0reedom of worship does not mean freedom to #ilify.
0reedom of speech does not mean freedom to e.press pre)udice or hatred.
In our society, under our laws, whether we be 'hristians, (indus, %ews,
!uslims, 3uddhists or atheists we are all Australians and we are all
equal.
0irst, last and always equal under the law of the land.
o when I hear people in#oking the scriptures to attack blended families
like mine7I cannot stay silent.
I do not agree.
+hen I see people hiding behind the bible to insult and demonise people
based on who they lo#e7I cannot stay silent.
I do not agree.
+hen I hear people allege that *&od tells them that marriage equality is
the 6rst step on the road to polygamy and bigamy and bestiality7I cannot
stay silent.
I do not agree.
These pre)udices do not re5ect the 'hristian #alues I belie#e in.
They paint the accusers as people who would rather )udge than
understand.
"eople all too willing to cast the 6rst stone.
And it sends a broader message, it feeds a perception that 'hurch and
faith are somehow incompatible with modern families, with modern life,
with modern Australia.
And I re)ect that.
'hristian #alues can still guide us in our )ourney through the modern world
seeking optimal conditions for raising and educating children, whate#er
their economic circumstances and whate#er the personal circumstances
of their parents
There is nothing old-fashioned about compassion or respect.
-othing out-dated in the idea of seeking peace, caring for others,
contributing to society and lo#ing your family.
-othing obsolete about treating e#eryone as we would wish to be treated.
Indeed, it has ne#er been more rele#ant, ne#er more important.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY
0riends, if we can agree on these things, if we agree that our duty is to
help the #ulnerable, to speak up for the powerless, to gather in those who
feel marginalised and e.cluded -
I wonder how we can continue to draw a line based on who people lo#e2
(ow can compassion, charity, lo#e, recognition and endorsement continue
to be restricted to heterose.ual Australia and the nuclear family2
I belie#e in &od and I belie#e in marriage equality under the ci#il law of
the 'ommonwealth of Australia.
I know that many of you do not share my #iew - and I recognise that for
some people of faith, this is a most #e.ed question.
It is one of the reasons 8abor has made marriage equality a conscience
#ote in pre#ious "arliaments, and today.
+e are a free society, you are entitled to your #iews and I am happy to
share mine with you.
I am a 'hristian and a supporter of marriage equality under the law.
At its heart, marriage equality is a question of legal recognition and legal
support for couples committed to each other regardless of their gender.
Thats why my reasons for #oting for change are based upon the broad
ideal of equality an Australia that includes e#eryone.
(owe#er our current law e.cludes some indi#iduals.
It says to them$ your relationships are not equally #alued by the state,
your lo#e is less equal under the law.
It e.cludes couples that are already together in lo#ing relationships ha#e
been for many years - and are entitled to ha#e that lo#e recognised
equally under the law.
And it e.cludes young same-se. attracted Australians.
9oung people who look at their go#ernment, look at their own society and
then look at themsel#es - and see a system, a nation that will ne#er
accept them or the person that they one day hope to lo#e.
+hate#er our religious #iews about marriage, and whate#er our social
#iews about how best to raise and educate children, we ha#e to change
this law which discriminates against adult couples on the basis of who
they lo#e.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
+e must all be committed to building the foundation for a fairer, more
equal society, a more decent and more generous world.
As "ope 0rancis said in an open letter to :1 "rime !inister ;a#id 'ameron
on the e#e of the &< summit$
4E*e%- econom!c $nd 'ol!t!c$l t&eo%- o% $ct!on m,st set $.o,t '%o*!d!ng
e$c& !n&$.!t$nt o) t&e 'l$net w!t& t&e m!n!m,m w&e%ew!t&$l to l!*e !n
d!gn!t- $nd )%eedom( w!t& t&e 'oss!.!l!t- o) s,''o%t!ng $ )$m!l-( ed,c$t!ng
c&!ld%en( '%$!s!ng God $nd de*elo'!ng one5s own &,m$n 'otent!$l+6
There is nothing uniquely 'atholic, nothing e.clusi#ely 'hristian about
that statement.
9et it is also entirely 'hristian.
A #iew of the world that looks beyond *treasures stored up on earth, that
re)ects the ra#ages of unfettered mercantilism and empty materialism.
,f course, go#ernments also ha#e a material responsibility.
A responsibility to seek prosperity, to create )obs, to deli#er the re#enue
that supports our great and generous social democracy.
3ut the distance and di4erence between a focus on c%e$t!ng wealth for
the nation and $cc,m,l$t!ng wealth for indi#iduals is #ast indeed.
HOMELESSNESS. POVERTY. PROSPERITY.
There is a #iew in some quarters of Australia that we ha#e to choose
between growth and equality.
That they are mutually e.clusi#e.
8abor knows that equality is not the child of growth it is the twin of
growth.
=quality does not )ust depend upon prosperity, it generates prosperity.
=#eryone bene6ts, when we include e#eryone.
o while in the proud history of our party 8abors understanding of the
means for creating equality may ha#e changed and e#ol#ed, our ob)ecti#e
remains unaltered.
+e still belie#e in fairness we always will.
+e still belie#e that a great nation gi#es e#eryone equal opportunity to
ful6l their potential.
A nation that reaches out a caring hand to those felled by the shafts of
fate, that sees homelessness, po#erty, loneliness and e.clusions as
wrongs to be righted, not problems to be a#oided.
To borrow an analogy from one of my heroes, the /e#erend !artin 8uther
1ing, a country should not tell a bootless man to pull himself up by his
bootstraps.
Thats the 8abor pro)ect, the big picture, the higher ground we stri#e for.
INDIGENOUS CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION
+e belie#e in an inclusi#e Australia an Australia at peace with its past,
seeking to right the grie#ous wrongs of our history.
An Australia that accords Aboriginal and Torres trait Islander people a
meaningful place of honour in our 'onstitution.
And an Australia where constitutional recognition marches alongside
'losing the &ap e.tending opportunity and ending disad#antage.
+here constitutional change brings new energy, new urgency, new #igour
and new enthusiasm for economic, social and legal change.
And I am pleased to see that the A'8 has gi#en its full support to one of
the de6ning political challenges of our generation.
FOREIGN AID
The 8abor mission has always been an international mission.
+e look outwards, we see and seek a role for oursel#es in the world.
As 3en 'hi5ey said, more than >? years ago$
7e &$*e $ g%e$t o.1ect!*e 8 t&e l!g&t on t&e &!ll 8 w&!c& we $!m to %e$c& .-
wo%k!ng )o% t&e .ette%ment o) m$nk!nd not onl- &e%e .,t $n-w&e%e we
m$- g!*e $ &el'!ng &$nd+
An-w&e%e we m$- g!*e $ &el'!ng &$nd+
That is a trait your members share with the 8abor mo#ement, whate#er
your politics a moral code that goes beyond lines on a map, a duty of
compassion that reaches beyond those who carry an Australian passport.
And its why we ha#e all been shocked by the harshness, the sa#agery of
this &o#ernments cuts to 0oreign Aid.
Amidst all the regressi#e unfairness of the Abbott-(ockey 3udget the
single biggest cut was to foreign aid and international de#elopment
assistance.
,ne dollar in e#ery 6#e cut from 'ommonwealth e.penditure came at the
e.pense of the worlds most #ulnerable people.
And @<.> billion dollars is not )ust a line in the 3udget.
@<.> billion dollars is the di4erence between$
A >??,??? people ha#ing access to basic sanitation and sewerage or
the disease and sickness that come from going without, and
A Its BC?,??? kids going to school or missing out, and
A Its D??,??? births attended by a trained healthcare professional - or
D??,??? mothers at risk.
@<.> billion dollars is all those things.
3ipartisanship is important in our national politics and the &o#ernment
has broken bipartisanship on 0oreign Aid.
They ha#e fractured a consensus that reaches back to the (oward
&o#ernment.
!aking the deepest cuts to those most in need is wrong.
Taking the most from those who ha#e the least is cruel.
!ost disappointingly, there is the hubris that some in the 8iberal ranks
take in this decision and I acknowledge there is discomfort among
others.
There can be no satisfaction in walking away from our international
humanitarian responsibilities.
I belie#e Australia is a more generous, more decent country than this.
I belie#e E!n1,st!ce $n-w&e%e( !s $ t&%e$t to 1,st!ce e*e%-w&e%e+9
And I am sure you feel the same way.
Australia cannot choose to pass by on the other side of the road.
IRAQ
%ust as we could not choose to stand by and watch II8 and their like in5ict
their barbarous, medie#al murder upon the #ulnerable people of Iraq.
Australias new in#ol#ement in Iraq, as part of an international
humanitarian e4ort, is an act of conscience.
The men and women of our defence force are not in Iraq to pursue
territory or power but to protect the displaced and help the #ulnerable.
Australias mission is not to assert the supremacy of one faith or one
people but to defend the rights of all faiths and all peoples.
+e cannot negotiate with poisonous fanaticism, we cannot ignore the
scale and sa#agery of their atrocities and we cannot co-operate with e#il
by refusing to support the innocent.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
%ust as the swamp of terrorism cannot be drained by force of arms alone,
the good we can do, the humanitarian aid we can o4er goes beyond
military assistance.
As a generous, prosperous nation made great in part by migration
8abor belie#es Australia can play a greater role in the international e4ort
to pro#ide refuge to the persecuted.
-early two million Iraqis ha#e 5ed their homes in the face of the II8
ad#ance and millions more ha#e been displaced by the con5ict in yria.
F??,??? people ha#e been dri#en from the yrian town of 1obane alone
)oining the hundreds of thousands already displaced by ci#il war$ 9aGidi,
Assyrians, !anicheans, Turkmen, 1urds and hiites.
And I acknowledge the work of the A'8, organising 2Sol!d$%!t- S,nd$-3
with more than H?? 'hurches around Australia praying for the persecuted.
In &o#ernment, 8abor increased Australias refugee intake under the
(umanitarian "rogram to F?,??? places a year.
:pon coming to oIce, the 'oalition reduced that to BD,<J?.
The !inister for Immigration has recently announced that Australia will
accept H,H?? refugees from yria and Iraq but this number is included in
the e.isting allocation of BD,<J?.
&i#en the scope and scale of the current crisis gripping the region, 8abor
belie#es that, as a starting point, those seeking refuge from the current
crisis in Iraq and yria should be taken !n $dd!t!on to the e.isting
allocation and we hope that the &o#ernment arri#es at that #iew.
The same humanitarian calling that compels us to act in Iraq, demands
that we make a meaningful contribution to the 6ght against =bola.
;esperate people need our help, our resources, our e.pertise we cannot
stand by and watch.
And waiting until the problem comes closer to our shores is not a strategy.
CONCLUSION
These are challenging times for our nation and for our world.
In F?BH terrorism has a new face and a new 5ag but beneath it march
the same enemies$ war and death, hatred and suspicion, fear and distrust.
The new scourge of =bola threatens Africa but we can trace its roots to the
old aKictions of po#erty, in)ustice, want and depri#ation.
=.tremism threatens our social cohesion seeking to in5ame the
pre)udice and intolerance that it feeds upon.
0or all of us, the way forward is clear- and so is our responsibility.
I understand that not all the #iews I ha#e outlined today will be accepted
by the Australian 'hristian 8obby.
3ut I also belie#e the tenets of our shared faiths and philosophical world
#iews can help us shape a free and con6dent nation in which the dignity
of all persons is enhanced by laws and policies determined after mature
political deliberation.
!y wife 'hloe suggested I conclude with a quote we both 6nd personally
inspiring, from %ohn +esley its one we share with our children$
Do $ll t&e good -o, c$n+
#- $ll t&e me$ns -o, c$n+
In $ll t&e w$-s -o, c$n+
In $ll t&e 'l$ces -o, c$n+
At $ll t&e t!mes -o, c$n+
To $ll t&e 'eo'le -o, c$n+
As long $s e*e% -o, c$n+
That is perhaps our shared #ocation, our calling - the cause for all of us.
Today, tomorrow and always.
-ow and fore#er.
ENDS